Instead of diving for cover, start planning now for a special time of
celebration this Christmas.
Would you like to join me?

* Write out what you want your family to focus on for this season. I want to
teach my children that celebrating the birth of Jesus is central to Christmas
and I want us to experience the joy of that celebration! We will open most of
our gifts on Boxing Day (26 December) so we can focus more on people and
celebrating Jesus' birth.
* Cut out any scheduled activity that doesn't help your family achieve that
focus.
* Focus on doing special things as a family rather than on buying your children
everything they want.
* How can we give ourselves to others? yet to organise, but our family helping
out with serving Christmas Day lunch at church is a probability.
* Be sure to plan some regular time for you to take care of yourself and relax.

[adapted from www.mops.org - MOMSense Radio Transcript 11/05]

cheers,
Johanna W
Hamilton, NZ
http://MOPSnz.bravehost.com

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